Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Mar. 13, 19.23.`

1,448,496. J. F. OCUNNOR.

manon sHocK Asonm wlEcHAmlsswt FILED APR.25, 192i.

k dllllllillllln Patented Mar. 13, 19723.

UNITED STATES 1,448,496 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. O'COL'NOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 WILLLAH H. EINER, OF

` UHAZY, NEW YORK.

FEICTION SHOCK-ABSOBBING HECHANISH.

Application led April 25, 1921;

To all wwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OCoNNon, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Vtate of Illinois, have invented a certain Vnew and useful Improvement in Friction Shocky Absorbing Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specilication.

This invention relates to im rovements in friction shock absorbing mec anisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a high capacity shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for rai'lway draft rigings and wherein are obtained certain .reease, a graduated smooth action, long life, uniform action at -all -timesi low stresses on all frictidn elements, and' low ultimate or peak low transmitted to the car underframe or other supportin framework.

A more specificoject' of the invention is to provide al friction shook absorbing meclianism of the `general character above indicated wherein is employeda wedging or pressure-creating(fsystenrthat is4 corn osed of a plurality of vseparate parts whic are relatively movable'v and "are, provided with anti-friction means-thefcbe'tween in conjmetion with#anti-fritohnans';iterposedbexof friction plates D tween s'rd system considered as an entirety and the ffrifction''elements to thereby positivelyA insurean extremely sensitive and instantaneous functioningfI of said wedgig system both during'tie act of compression and during releas 1. fr

Another specific objecto the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated wherein are employed two members relatively movable toward and from each other, each of said members having a series of friction elements, preferabl in the form of plates, secured thereto and re atively longitudinally immovable with res ect to4 the member to which the friction ,e ements are secured, the friction elements bein intercalated for the purpose of obtaining arge frictioual wearing areas.

Other objects of the invention. will more clearly a )pear from the description hereinafter following.

`In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fi ure 1 is a horizontal, lo itudinal, sectiona view of a portion of a rallan anti-friction roller K Serial No. 484,234.

way draft rigging showing m improvements in connection therewith. i ure 2 is a vertical, sectional view correspon ing substantially to the line 2 2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlar d vertical sectional view corresponding suitantially to the line 3 of Figure 1 but omitting any showing of the dra t sills or yoke of the draft ri ging. Figure 4 is a broken, lon itudim, vertical sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 4--4 .of FiguraB. And Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail perspectives of one of the wedge elements, a spring` follower, and one of the friction plates, respectively.

In said drawiny 10-10 denote channel draft sills of a raivay car to the inner faces of which are sec'ured front stop lugs 11 and rear stop lugs 12, the same being of an desired form. The inner portion of a rawbar is indicated at 13, the same being operatively associated with the shock absorbin mechanism proper by means of a hooded cast yoke 14 and coupler key 15. The yoke and parts within are supported in operative position by a detachable saddle plate 16.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises, broadly, a column-load-sustaining member A; a spring resistance B' a spring followerC; a series a c'asing or carrier E; a series of friction plates F mounted in said casing' E; a front follower G; a wed in system comprising the elements H an interposed between said elements H and J; sets of side anti friction rollers L; and retainer bolts M--M.

The column-loadsustaining member A, as shown, is in the form of a casting of hollow box-like form having upper and lower'li parallel walls 17-17, an integral vertical connecting wall 18 adapted to act as a follower in conjunction with the stop lugs 12, and vertical side walls 19--19 at the outer or forward end of said casting A, said side walls 19 bein relatively short as clearly indicated in igure 1, so as to leave the major portion o the sides of the member A open to thereby facilitate the insertion and removal of the follower C and twin springs comprisin the spring resistance B. From thel prece ing description, it. will be seen that a rectangular casing is formed at the forward end of themember A and the greater portion of the 'rear of Said rectangu- Figui-e 7 to correspond with the size and' i contour of the ribs 20. With this arran ment the plates D may be inserted wit iin the member A centrally thereofand, when the notches 21 are opposite the Vribs 20,the plates D may be slipped laterally or sidewise on to said ribs 20 thereb prevented from movement longitudinally relatively to the member A although free to move laterally and thus sensitive to laterally applied pressure on the plates D. In the preferable arran ement shown, six plates D are employed ivided equally, three on each side of the center line` of the mechanism.

The casing E is of hollow rectangular form havinv upper and lower parallel walls AEil-22, ami vertical side connect-ing walls 23-23. On each side of the center, said' to and bottom walls 22 are provided on bot their front and rear edges with inturned complemental flanges 24-24, thus providing upper and lower transversely extending elongated grooves or giiideways 25 on o posite sides of the center line on the inner aces of said wziils 2i. guidoways :5 are laterally inserted the friction elements F whit-l1 are in the form of plates, ns shown in Figures 1 and 2, it bein understood that said plates F are prevente from movement longitudinally relatively to the casing but :ire free to move laterally therein and thus also sensitive to transverscly applied iressiiie. As best shown in Figure 3.y the plates F are alternated with the plates D and normally partially overlap' the plates D. Preferably there will be s ix of the stationary plates F, three on each side of the center line, the two plates F ofeach group nearest the cent/er line being of lcross section and the outermost oneof each group of half I-rross section. With this arrangement, guides 2G are provided by and between adjacent parts of plates F i for each of thel plates D- and at the same time sufficient clearance is left between the thickened edges of the plates I" to allow the lutter to be freely responsive to laterally applied pressure. Preferably' also L so arrange the plates F and D as to have a plate D the innermost one of cach group. As shown in Figures l and 4, the opposed edges of the casini: and member A are separated a distance slightly less than the permissible compression stroke of the mechanism, the

Iin

-the two elements H and J and the platesiD H seats 33-33 to Within said grooves or` said rollers L`L to roll ends of the plates' D. In

balance of said stroke corresponding to the space 27 which normally obtains between the ollover G and the front edges of the cas- The follower G preferably consists of a. flat plate such as common in the art and isadapted to cooperate with the stop lugs 11. under draft `and also to transmit pressure directly from the butt of the drawbar 13 to the wed element H which projects slightly outward y from the casing L when the parts are in normal condition.

The wedge system,

which are erally similar form although varying slightly in details Each 'of said members and J has an 'inclined wedge face 28., the same. being arranged o posite each other and Rroviding seats for t e anti-friction roller which is interposed between said wedge faces 28. The members H and J are provided also with oppositely disposed shoulders 29 coo erable with said roller Kfto properly maintain it in position as will be understood. The memberfH has an outer transverse face 30 direct] bearing upon that follower (l and the mem r J has a corresponding transverse face 31 at its inner end which beiirs'against the transverse face 32 of the central hollow section of the follower C which is extended between the two groups of the plates D.. On itsYoi'iter side, each member H and J is provided with two roll accommodate said rollers Ly-fL, the lutter projecting slightly outwardly beyond the longitudinal outer faces of the members H and J and rolling upon tlie inner plates' D-J). Said rolll seats 33 are siiliciently elongated, in a direction parallel to the axis of the mechanism, to permit freely therewithin within .the necessary limits desired.

The follower C, as be tshown in Figures 1 and (l. is provided with lateral extensions 34-L34 .to form suitable bearings for the forward vends of the twin springs, said extensions 3l normally hearing against the inner addition, the fob ii per and lower lower C is provided with `forwardly extending pira lel horizontal flanges 35-35 which stra'ddle the wedge element J and have their forward edges 236-36 normally engagingtheear edges of the casing E. y

The retainer boltsAM, preferabl two in number, are arrangdyso as to avc the heads at one end thereof engage in suitable pockets formed on the member A and the nuts on the other end thereof countersiink in suitable recesses 37-37 in the wedge member H, the follower C being suitably perforated as indicated at 38 and the wedge elements` H sind .l suitably grooved as indicated at 39 to accommodate Said bolts. Said bolts not only maintain all of the parts in as shown, consists of of Ig'entif.

lill;

assembled relation but may also be utilized to lace the spring resistance under an initia compression to compensate for wear on the parts when the mechanism is in service.

The operation of themechanism is as follows, assuming an inward or bullin movement of the drawbar. As the rawbar moves inwardly, the follower (Jr is forced inwardly simultaneously and uniformly therewith, durin which action the member A acts as a fo lower and column to resist the longitudinal shocks. held stationary, the plates D are likewise held stationary. During the initial portion of the compression stroke, the wedge elements H and J will be forced rearwardly or inwardly with respect to all of the friction plates D and 1*' and the wedging or spreading action thus set up will cause lateral increased pressure on the groups of alternated plates. This action forces the follower C rearwardly so as to pass out of contact with the rear edges of the plates D. After a proximatel a half inch of the stroke t e follower (1 will enga e the casing at which time Vthe desiredZ lateral pressure on the plates will have been produced. Thereafter, the easing E carrying the plates F will travel inwardly or rearwardly in unison with the follower G and drawbar 13, thus causing the plates F to slide upon the plates D and generating friction and absorbin the shockrsupplemental tothe resistance a orded by the springs. The limit of the com ression stroke is obtained when the casing E engages the column-load-sustaining member A. Upon removal of the actuating force, the initiation of the release action is obtained by the springs reacting through the follower L which forces the wedging system, as a unit, to move outwardly and to collapse until the forward edges 36 of the flanges 35 of the follower C re-engage the casing or carrier E at which time the ressure on the friction plates will have een reduced to the desired minimum and further expansion of the sprin will force the casing or'carrier E outward, y until the parts return to their normal condition shown in Fi ure 1. On account of the fact that the we ging system is anti-frictionally mounted with respect to the friction elements and because of the anti-friction means employed between the elements of the system, said wedging system is extremely sensitive and insures arapld and substantially instantaneous settin up of the desired" Wedgin pressure during the compression stroke and a correspondingly rapid decrease or cols lapse of said spreading pressure at the begrinning of the release stroke. E It will be noted that the wedging pressure set up on the alternated groups of plates never can exceed a certain maximum which is determined by the capacity of thessprings,

The member A being.

A will be appreciated by art is that the friction elements'are not j brought into action by slight shocks which,'

that is, the maximum wedging or spreading pressure exerted on the plates is not proportional to the blow imposed by the drawbar. On this account, the stresses induced in any of the parts never become excessive and danger from bursting or rupture is thereby prevented, Furthermore, by employing the. alternated friction plates, am enabled toobtain a very large amount of frictional wearing areas to thereby increase the frictional capacity to a value several times that now obtained in man types of friction gears on the market. he wear entirely occurs on the plates D and F and these can be readily manufactured at comparatively smallexpense and renewals effected with a slight amount of labor. The arran ment is such that the work performed y the mechanism is alwaysproportional to the blow applied, uniform increments of blow producing uniform increments of movement of the mechanism and uniform increments of work erformed. The mechanism is smooth and) graduated in its action, and is not stili Another valuable feature that those skilled in the as well known in the art, are many times more numerous than medium or heavy shocks. ln other words, the almost constant minor vibrations or surgings of the drawbar relatively to the gear, when the car is in movement, willbe absorbed by the sprin and actuation of the wedging system wit out inducing relative movement of the alternated friction plates. This result is of extreme importance in prolonging the life ofA the mechanism since 1t minlmizes the wear of the friction parts.

l have herein shown and described what I -now consider the preferred manner of carryinlr out the invention, but the 'same is mere y illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

l claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a column-loadsustaining member; of a 'series offfriction elements carried by and extendingoutwardly Y form said member andrheld against movement longitudinally relatively thereto; a carrier :said carrier beingvmovable relatively towa `andfrom said `member; a second series of fgietion elements mounted on and movable-in unison with said carrier and intercalated with respect to the first namedise- Jries, said second series of friction elements being disposed entirely outside yf the said member; a spring resistance; and lateralpressure-creating means' cooperable with said intercalated friction elements. .2, In a friction shock absorbing mechamsm, the combination with a column-loadsustaining Inembur; of ii .stories of {'ricion elements rarricil by :mil entendi-il outwurilly from said member :xml l'uilil against. longitudinal niovcmcnt relzitixoly tlicrcto; a rurricr movable rclutivelj.' toward unil-from said member; :i second scrii's ol' friction clenuints mounted on nml movublc in unison with Suid rnrricr und intcrculateil with rcspect to tbcl friction elrmvnts of the first named serios, sind intcrcubitcrl friction cloments being divided into two groups, one on nach side of the center line of the mocha nism, the friction elenwnts of said second series being disposed entirely outside of the i said member; a spring resistance; and lateral-pressure-creating means interposed between said two groups of intcrcal'ateil elements nml cooper-able therewith.

3. ln a friction shock absorbing mechanism, tbc combination wit-h u rolumnnloarlsustaining member said member including a casing at one en( a foilower :it the other and and :i spring cage therebetween; of :i series of friction elemcnts,s=cc1xied.to said member within said casing, pori'ion thereof and held against `longiimcbmil movement with respect thereto; n carrier movable toward und from said mcmlior: :i second scries of friction elements mounted on :ind movable in unison with said carrier and fric tionally Slidablc upon the friction clen'icnts of the firstI named series. ibo elienuints of siiiil second Series being disposed olififle saixl member; :i spring' ruuistiim-c Within said rage; and lateral-pressurewrcuting means urmperablc within said friction elcmrnts.

L In i1 friction Slim-li' `absorbing mochilnism. thel combination with a column-loada sustaining member, saicl membri' including iny casing at one end, u follower :it the other rml anilspringf rag@ therebetween: of u series offriction elements scrurcil to sziili member within the casing portion therco'l` and extndefl 'outwardly from siiifl mcmbcr; :l carrir movablo fownril sind from Siiiil member: a second series. or' friction elvnwnts mounted on and movable in unison with said carricr and intcrczilatcrl with inspect. to ibo elements of the first named serios. the cloto; n cnrricr. :said carrier being; movable relatively toward anni from maid niruber; a

sri-omi Lcrics of fris-tion elcmenisi mouniuil on unil Inoiziio in i @on wi'li mi@ carrier nml ililcrculniwl willi i'cspei Lo ibo iirt, minimi ,ui-rica, siiiil nl :ici-ics @il irictiou clmncnts lic-ing: dispo, il cnircly minidv of the said rncmbvr; a siii-ing rcs"":iiifii-; lat- Vroble with #nifl intvrrixlzicil lrirrio. olrnmiis; :rmi a follower on ibo sirio of Seiifl rari-im'V rrnmi from siiiil nicmbori siiiil follower being' norw imilly apiiced from rbc ciirrirr und Said prrssurwrresitinu melius being inerposecl betwccn Suid follower :1mi the spring re sistanrc.

ln dV friction :ilsorlr ubiirbingg mecha nisni7 tbv combination with :i roluiiim-loud sustaining mcmbor; of u snrics of friction eli-monti; ciirr'ifid by und cxtcmiin! outwurillv from Suid member and held against longitudinal movement relnrivcly horst-o; a cairicr movable relatively toward and Vfrom said mombcr; a wc-comi series of friction elcmcnts mountoil on and Imiviiblfl in unison with said carrier und intifrcalnilcil with respect. to tbc friction alcmcnfs of the first minimi series, said iueri-uluwl friu'ion elev ments'bcing liviiiril inw two "mbps, one on euch Side of ilu minier linz o tbc merlin,- nism, the friction rlenicns of sniil svcoml series bring' ilispofseil similarly uuiiilc of tile Suid im'fmbei l igf rcfsisam .ucrii preSSuro-ifi-uiting moans inner-bovini lictwccn sind tivo groups nl intri'cul:ii,iil ecmcnn sind coopuriiblitlicrowitli; ami a Followf-r on. that sido of the ciirrior reruoic fron'i siiiil mem-- bei" suicl followcr bring! normally sourcil from thc cnrrivi mi ,wai-.l prcnuiim-rrfiiiing moans cxtcniling iso beltfwwn saisi loll'u, 1r and flic spring ici stamm.

'i'. ln :i 'ririon bock absorbing :linchanism. the ronibiniitioii will: a winmix-leunisusiiining member; of ii series of iria-lion @icuii-nin carried by :incl uxteeniling omwiarlly vfrom saisi mcmbcr nml belli :1g-filme moren mont; longitmlimiliy rclnlircly Hui-cio; a rz'irrior :mill riirricr brin" movablv mlzirively iowiml and froin sziirlhmember; ai snvozirl serios of friction vlrnunts mount'eil on anni movable in unison willi s-tizid Carrier and invtcrcalatcrl with rcspcf'f to ille first named Series, Suid scconil :i rios if friction Elementi@ being disposed intimi f outside of the Suid membvr: :i spring; resistance; interni-priissurcvrrciiiing means coouirablo will] Raid inlerczilntvil friction efiiiiiicnts; :i oliower on the .side of :mill carrie-r rmnolc fiom saisi inrmbefr`v Said follower bcin normfzlly spaced from he ciiiricr unil simil pressure creating n'iczujis'bcing intcrposoii hiv-tween said follower und thc Spring resistiinrr; :and

anti-ierir'riiori moons incrposed 'mii-irren said l)rossnrc-'creiiting means and the fri lion ole- !ncnts. i

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sustaining member; of a series of friction elements carried by and extended' outwardly from said member and held against longitudinal movement relatively thereto; a carrier movable relatively toward and from said member; a second series of friction elements mounted on and movable in unison with said carrier and intercalated with respect to the friction elements of the first named series, said intercalated friction elements bein divided into two groups, one on each side o the center line ofthe mechanism, the friction elements of said second series being disposed entirely outside of the said member; a spring reslstance; lateral-pressurecreating means interposed between said' two group of intercalated elements and cooperable therewith; a follower on that side of the carrier remote ,from said member, said follower being normally spaced from the carrier and said pressure-creating means extending also between said follower and the spring resistance; and anti-friction means interposed between said rassure-creating means and each group of riction elements.

9. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a column-loadsustainingwmember; of a series of friction elementscarried by and extending outwardly from said member and held against movement longitudinali-y relatively thereto; a carrier, said carrier being movable relatively toward and from said member; a second series of friction elements mounted on yand movable in unison with said carrier and intercalated with respect-to the first named series, said second series of friction elements being disposed entirely outside of the said member; a spring resistance; lateral-pressure-creatin means eooperable with said intercalated riction elements, said pressurecreating means including a plurality of elements; anti-friction means disposed between said elements; and a follower on the side of said carrier remote from said member, said follower being normally spaced from the carrier and the pressure-creating means being interposed between said follower and the spring resistance.

10. In a friction shock absorbingr mechanism.- the combination with a column-loadsustaining member; of a series of friction elements carried by and extended outwardly from said member and held against longitudinal movement relatively thereto; a carrier movable relatively toward and from said member; a second series of friction elements mounted on and movable in unison with said carrier and intercalated with respect to the friction elements of the first named series, said intercalated friction elements being divided into two groups, one

on each side of the center line of the mecha.

nism, the friction elementsof said second series being disposed entirely outside of the said member; a spring resistance; lateralpressure-creating means interposed between said two groups of intercalated elements and cooperable therewith, said pressure-creating means including a' plurality of elements relatively movable g. anti-friction means interposed between said elements; and a follower on the side of said carrier remote from said member, said follower bein normally spaced from the carrier and `t e pressure-l creating means being interposed between said follower and the spring resistance. 11. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the character' described, the combination with a hollow follower-acting member open at one end; of a series of friction plates secured at their inner ends to the open end of said member and extendin rom and movable relatively toward and from said member; a second series of friction plates carried by and movable in unison with said carrier and intercalated with the plates of the first series, said intercalated plates being divided into two groups, one on each side of the center line; a s ring resistance within said member; a fol ower interposed between said spring resistance and the anchored ends of said plates of the first series, said follower having extensions normally engaging said carrier; a wedge-pressure-creatingv system mounted between said groups of fiiction elements, the inner end outwardl therefrom; a carrier norma ly spaced.

vta 

